Improvement in valve-gear for steam-engines



N. TIFFT & W. LOVE.

Improvement in Valve Gear for Steam Engines.

Patented April 16,1872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OrrIcr JOSEPH N. TIFFT AND WILLIAM LOVE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN VALVE-GEAR FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 125,769, dated April 16, 1872.

SPECIFICATION. We, JOSEPH N. TIFFT and WILLIAM Lovn,

both of the city of Buffalo, county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Valve-Gear for steam Engines, of which the following is a specification:

Our improvements relate to that class of steam-engines which are provided with two eccentrics for running the engine in one or the other direction, and which are generally known as reversible engines, and more articularly to those in which each eccentric-rod is provided with two diverging guide-arms for engaging with the pin of the valve-rod or lever.

Our invention consists, first, in the combination, with the eccentric-rod having a fixed or stationary guide-arm, of an end piece and guide-arm capable of longitudinal adjustment on the eccentric-rod, so as to compensate for the wear of the jaws which engage with the pin of the valve rod or lever; second, in the combination, with two eccentric-rods having fixed guide-arms and adjustable end pieces, of a bar or link for connecting the ends of both eccentric-rods, so as to be simultaneously operated, and for retaining them at the proper distance apart; third, the combina-- tion, with the eccentric-rods and guides and connecting-bar, of a cord'and suitable guiderollers for reversing the engine at a considerable distance therefrom.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure I is a side elevation of a steam engine provided with our improvements. Fig. 11 is a detached view, on an enlarged scale, of the endsof the eccentric-rods and connecting-bar. Fig. III is a front elevation thereof.

Like letters designate like parts in each of the figures.

A represents a reversible steam-engine of any ordinary or well-known construction; A,

formed with the end of the eccentric-rod G, and c a similar upwardly-projecting guidearm provided at the end of the eccentric-rod O. D is the adjustable end piece secured to the eccentric-rod 0. It is provided. with a square shoulder corresponding with the end of the eccentric-rod, so that the pin 8 snugly fits between both, as clearly shown in Fig. II. at is an inclined downwardly-projecting guide formed with the end piece D. The latter is secured to the eccentric-rod O by bolts e passing through elongated holes in the eccentric-rod to allow of longitudinal adjustment of the end piece D as the bearing-surfaces in contact with the pin .9 become worn. D is a similar end piece, having a guide-arm, d. It

is adjustably secured to the eccentric-rod O" by bolts 0. F is a link or bar connecting the .ends of the eccentric-rods (l G, to which it is secured by bolts f, or in any other suitable manner. 9 is a cord or rope, preferably a wire-rope, secured to the upper end of the bar F, and passing over suitable guide-rollers h to the point at which the operator is stationed.

When the upper eccentric-rod O operates the valve, as shown in Fig. I, the weight of the parts keeps the guide-arms 0 cl engaged with the valve-lever 8. By pulling the cord g, so as to disengage the rod G and engage the rod 0' with the valve-lever s, the engine is re versed; and, to retain the valve-gear in this position, the rope g is attached to a weight, 1', sufficient to overcome the pressure of the valve-gear, and which is placed upon a support, 6, when the rope is required to be loose. Instead of the weight 0', a spring-hook or similar locking device may be employed for retainin g the valvegear in theupper position.

The above-described device enablesthe engine to be reversed at a considerable distance, whereby a special attendant in the engineroom can be dispensed with, and the attachment of the connecting-bar F to the rope g has the further advantage of allowing the valve-gear all possible freedom of movement.

We claim as our invention- I 1. The combination, with the valve-rod of a steam-engine, of the eccentric-rod 0, provided with a guide arm, c, and the adjustable end piece D pfovided with a guide-arm, 61, subing; the engine ataconsiderabledistance therestantially as hereinbefore set forth. from, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination, with the eccentric-rods JOSEPH N. TIFFT. and guides O O c c d d, of the connecting- WILLIAM LOVE.

bar F, as hereinbefore set forth.

3. The combination, with the eccentric-rods Witnesses:

and guides O O 0 0 d d and connecting-rod JOHN J. BONNER, F, of the cord g and guide'rollers h for revers- EDWARD WILHELM. 

